March 10 - Sargas 40 and 41 of Uttara Kanda.
Two sargas that have many feel-good moments bringing together the several strands of Sri Rama's glory and compassion as well as Hanuman's supreme devotion.
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Sri Rama bids goodbye to Sugriva and his impressive team of chiefs and ministers with these words,
गम्यतां सौम्य किष्किन्धां धुराधर्षां सुरासुरैः पालयस्व सहामात्यैः
"Dear Surgiva, Please proceed to your wonderful kingdom, Kishkindha, impenetrable by even gods and demons; and rule there well, with your good chiefs and ministers."
Sri Rama now mentions every single vanara hero who played any part in their advancement to Lanka and during the tough battle they all had to fight for victory. He does not leave out any name, and I counted upwards of twenty-five names.
ये ये मे सुमहात्मानो मदर्थे त्यक्तजीविताः ।
पश्य त्वं प्रीतिसंयुक्तो माचैषां विप्रियं कृथाः ॥
"King Sugriva, all these great heroes have done immense service in my cause risking their lives. Kindly take care of them with affection and ensure that nothing unpleasant arises for them under your rulership."
Sri Rama now turns to King Vibhishana. He wishes him a safe journey to Lanka and a happy kingship there. He also adds,
मा च बुद्धिमधर्मे त्वं कुर्या राजन्कथञ्चन ।
बुद्धिमन्तो हि राजानो ध्रुवमश्नन्ति मेदिनीम् ॥
"King Vibhishana, ensure that your mind is not turned to unrighteous activities ever. Indeed, those kings who know this and rule intelligently will be the ones who will enjoy lordship over their lands for long."
It is noteworthy that Sugriva is cautioned against inadvertent and indiscreet acts that may upset his commanders. This is because he is himself yet to establish his reputation for diplomacy and mastery of rulership and depends heavily on his advisors whom he cannot afford to estrange. On the other hand, Vibhishana is a very capable and dharmic king, but being a rakshasa and surrounded by rakshasas, his risk is one of straying from Dharma.
All the vanaras and rakshasas hail Sri Rama's sagely counsel with the words, "Sadhu Sadhu (well said, sir!). They all say,
तव बुद्धिर्महाबाहो वीर्यमद्भुतमेव च ।
माधुर्यं परमं राम स्वयम्भोरिव नित्यदा ॥
"Oh, Great warrior, Lord Sri Rama, inestimable are your wisdom and your military prowess. In addition, your words are always so sweet and well-meant that we can compare you only to Bhagawan Lord Brahma."
***
Hanuman now came forward humbly to Sri Rama. He had a prayer:
स्नेहो मे परमो राजंस्त्वयि तिष्ठतु नित्यदा ।
भक्तिश्च नियता वीर भावो नान्यत्र गच्छतु ॥
'Oh, Lord Sri Rama, please bless me that my devotion and affection for you shall overflow in me forever. Let my devotion be rooted in my consistent adherence, with my mind never straying from you."
यावद्रामकथा वीर चरिष्यति महीतले ।
तावच्छरीरे वत्सन्तु प्राणा मम न संशयः ॥
यच्चैतच्चरितं दिव्यं कथा ते रघुनन्दन ।
तन्ममाप्सरसो राम श्रावयेयुर्नरर्षभ ॥
"Oh, glorious hero, Sri Rama, as long as the wonderful story of Sri Rama is recounted on earth, I shall hold my life-breath together, by your grace, without a doubt. I request that this divine story of yours, oh, Raghunandana Sri Rama, shall always come to my ears being recited melodiously by the celestial maidens and minstrels. I shall cherish that so much that it will constantly satisfy my eagerness to hear your divine story."
Hearing these words, Sri Rama came down from his throne, and embraced Hanuman tightly. "Dear Hanuman, supreme among vanaras, indeed it shall be so! And your glory and fame will flourish as long as the Sri Rama-katha is sung in this world! You shall also live with all your vitality and life-force in tact!
"I should add,
लोका हि यावत्स्थास्यन्ति तावत्स्थास्यन्ति मे कथाः
"As long as these worlds exist, my stories will be constantly recited and recounted!"
एकैकस्योपकारस्य प्राणान्दास्यामि ते कपे ।
शेषस्येहोपकाराणां भवाम ऋणिनो वयम् ॥
"Dear Hanuman, every single act of help and favour you have rendered to me can be repaid only by giving my life itself! What then to say of all the acts of help you have rendered... we shall be beholden and be in your debt forever!"
"Hanuman, let my overwhelming feeling of gratitude dissolve in my being right away, as even a desire to repay someone's kind act like yours is, in a way, wishing that person some bad circumstance so that we may find an opportunity to help him in return!"
Saying this, Sri Rama took off from his own neck a most magnificent necklace, shining like the moon and studded with rare gems and diamonds, and placed that moon necklace around Hanuman's neck. Valmiki says Hanuman looked at that moment like the Meru mountain adorned with the moon on its crest.
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As the rakshasas and vanaras bade goodbye and started to leave, they all experienced great distress at having to go away from Sri Rama. Shedding tears, recalling so many things, they all left, one by one.
***
Soon afterward, as Sri Rama and Bharata and others were resting one midday, there was a sweet announcement from the skies. "Dearest, sweet, Sri Rama, look up and see me! I am the Pushpaka coming from Kubera's city. Know, oh king, that I went to Kubera as you instructed me. But he had a different take on the matter. "The glorious Sri Rama has rightfully won you in battle in Lanka. He destroyed Ravana and his ilk which makes me immensely happy. You shall therefore be henceforth serving Sri Rama alone. Please report to him with this message from me.""
Kubera's last instruction to Pushpaka was, " Oh Pushpaka, Sri Rama is the supreme lord and protector of the entire world. Your serving him will therefore be the best thing for you. Please take this as my final instruction and inform Sri Rama also."
Pushpaka informed Sri Rama that he was capable of flying in the three worlds freely and could not be damaged or destroyed by anyone or any weapon.
Sri Rama now spoke to Pushpaka most cordially, "Oh Pushpaka, if Lord Kubera has desired so, we are most happy to use your services, without any fear of transgressions. Indeed you are a divine vehicle and may come in useful for many things." Sri Rama called for all the paraphernalia for worship and duly worshipped Pushpaka.
Thereafter he said, " Oh, Pushpaka, you may kindly go for now. Whenever I need you I shall remember and call for you. You may report only on such occasions. However, I want you not to inconvenience anyone, especially sages and ascetics, during your travels. Also, be safe and avoid drunken driving."
Pushpaka was gratified and said, "Let it be so, oh master!" and flew away.
Now Bharata came forward. "Dear brother, Sri Rama, I have some happy news. During your glorious rule, a peculiar thing has happened. Maybe by your divine grace, even non-humans have started conversing like humans! In the one month since your coronation, there has not been any one of our citizens falling ill. Everyone is healthy. No one had died, too! Women are giving birth to babies without any complications! All people are hale and hearty. There is timely rain and prosperity all around. The tender and cool wind is blowing everywhere. All citizens are wishing aloud for your longevity and rule over Ayodhya. "
Sri Rama expressed great happiness on hearing this.
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॥ श्रीरामजयम् ॥
